Wal-Mart

Costco

Costco jumped from the No. 4 spot last year to No. 2, due to an elevated rate of expansion, said Skrovan.

“The retailer added +26 net new clubs in 2013, the most it has opened since pre-recession days,” she said. “Global operations are playing an increasingly important role for the retailer too. In addition to new club openings, the retailer remains a leader in per unit productivity. Comp gains are driven by adding memberships, strong member retention, and a keen focus on providing value on consumables side of club as well as exciting members with treasure hunt-type deals in general merchandise."

Tesco

Tesco, which dropped two spots to the No. 4 slot, is in the midst of a domestic recovery program, according to David Gray, a retail analyst at Planet Retail.

“Through investments in store refurbishments, EDLP, the Clubcard loyalty scheme and multi-channel initiatives the company hopes to turn around flagging sales,” he said. “This turnaround will be measured in years rather than months — with the domestic store refurbishment not set to be completed until 2017.”

Safeway

Publix

“Publix moved up the ranks to take the No. 3 spot away from Supervalu on the U.S. conventional supermarket leader board — thus pushing itself onto the Global Top 25 (No. 23),” said Skrovan.

“The retailer, recognized for its fresh offer — including fresh produce and a well-developed meals solutions offer, including its Aprons program — caters to a higher-end shopper compared with other conventional grocers. These higher-income shoppers have tended to bounce back from the economic doldrums and are loosening their purse strings, which has benefited Publix.”

SN’s Top 25 Global Food Retailers 2014 list, compiled by Planet Retail and based on annual sales for food, nonfood and wholesale operations, reflects increased merger and acquisition activity among U.S. grocers, and the success of retailers on the premium and discount ends of the value spectrum, Sandy Skrovan, U.S. research director for Planet Retail, told SN.

“There has been quite a bit of shake-up in the U.S. grocery landscape in recent times, due to some merger & acquisition activity among some of the biggest U.S.-based conventional supermarket companies [including] the Kroger/Harris Teeter combo; Safeway pulling out of Canada with sales of Canadian operations to Sobeys; and Supervalu’s sale of five banners to Cerberus-led Albertsons,” Skrovan said.

“In addition, there has been somewhat of a bifurcation in the grocery landscape with upscale/premium grocers picking up steam at one end of the spectrum and value retailers [such as] dollar stores, Aldi, and value-oriented supermarkets, doing well and expanding at the lower-end of spectrum. Walmart and Kroger have the middle-area mainstream adequately covered. Others ‘stuck in the middle’ are struggling.”